Alex Carpenter Represents Youth Movement for US Women's Hockey Team

Having already competed for the United States at the Under-18 level, the prodigious Alex Carpenter has an opportunity to compete at an even higher level. For the 2013 IIHF Women’s World Championships, Carpenter is competing with the senior team. “This is my first World Championships and I am very excited to get here. It’s a very fast game from the start.”

Still a student at Boston College, she is also a member of the BC Eagles varsity team. During the 2012-13 season, she assembled a remarkable 24-game scoring streak (a Hockey East record) that helped establish her as one of the elite players in the NCAA.

This was also complemented by a solid 70 point campaign, a program record. For her hard work, she was rewarded with a Second Team All-America selection. Eagles head coach Katie King-Crowley is not only a mentor, but she was a member of the gold medal winning squad at the 1998 Nagano Winter Games.

“She is definitely an influence. She has been such a great help in getting to this point and making the team. When she talks about the rivalry with Canada, she really builds it up. It is such a great competition.”

A second generation star, her father is Bobby Carpenter. He was not only the first American-born player to score 50 goals in an NHL season, but he earned a Stanley Cup title with the New Jersey Devils in 1995.

“My dad was there for the game against Canada (on April 2). It was very exciting. He helps me with everything I do. It is as much for me as it is for him.”

Having played against Canada in many memorable games at numerous Under-18 IIHF Women’s Worlds, the impact of the rivalry is not lost on Carpenter.

“I was up at the games in Burlington, Vermont (where the 2012 IIHF Women’s Worlds were hosted). There will definitely be good games here in Ottawa. We use our speed a lot. We have young legs. It is a very good rivalry with Canada. There is high tension on the ice but it is still exciting.”